Chapter 1539: Coercion

He looked at the two women: one was young and beautiful, subtly exuding the charm of a married woman; the other was classically elegant and graceful, radiating mature charm with every glance. The yamen runners and constables, accustomed to the unruly habits of the marketplace, couldn't help but whistle provocatively at the sight.

The young man leading them wore a brocade robe, but it failed to conceal his shifty, rat-like demeanor. His gaze brazenly swept over the two women, and he clicked his tongue, remarking, "Everyone outside says the Sang family married a captivating wife, but in my opinion, Miss Sang is quite attractive too."

"Your insight is keen, young master; these two women truly possess their own unique beauty."

"But wasn't Miss Sang rumored to be quite slender? Why does she look a bit plumper today?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? This is called voluptuousness. It feels incredible in bed; too thin and it's bony and painful."

The surrounding yamen runners flocked around the young master, praising him like stars surrounding the moon, and openly commented on the women.

That day, Zheng Dan and Sang Qian were discussing the disappearance of Sang Hong's envoy mission in the boudoir. Though both sisters-in-law were intelligent, their limited information and resources left them helpless in this situation.

"Don't worry, with Azu around, father-in-law will be fine," Zheng Dan said, gently holding Sang Qian's hand to comfort her.

"Yes, I hope so," Sang Qian murmured, unconsciously stroking her slightly bulging belly. *He's the father of my child*, she thought. Truth be told, the two were barely familiar with each other; even their intimate moments had been in the dark. Yet, at this moment, she felt a deep attachment to this most familiar stranger.

Just then, they heard a commotion outside and both women went out to investigate. As Sang Qian was pregnant, Zheng Dan, worried about her well-being, shielded her sister-in-law behind her.

"Who are you? How dare you cause trouble at the Sang residence!" Zheng Dan glared at the man leading them.

Sang Qian quietly transmitted a message with qi: "Sister-in-law, this fellow is Yi Zhibing, the son of Yi Chun, the Prefect of Jingzhao. He's always enjoyed bullying men and women and is known in our circles as a lecherous scoundrel."

Having lived in Bright Moon City for a long time, Zheng Dan was not very familiar with the figures in the capital. Hearing Sang Qian's explanation, Zheng Dan subtly frowned. Although the man was notorious, he couldn't possibly be foolish; otherwise, he wouldn't have enjoyed such a carefree life among the powerful and influential in the capital for so long. The fact that he now dared to break in directly suggested something significant had happened.

"The Sang family, we are so scared," Yi Zhibing said, patting his chest and making an exaggerated, utterly contemptible expression. Then his face suddenly turned serious. "Sang Hong is suspected of colluding with the demon race and murdering the envoy mission. I am here by order to investigate. Men, search the place!" Meanwhile, his gaze lingered on Zheng Dan, thinking that the rumors in their circles about Sang Qian's newly wedded wife possessing the classical beauty of a water town were truly accurate. She was even ladylike when angered, her soft voice making his bones tingle.

"Yes, sir!" The constables and yamen runners rushed into the courtyard like wolves, visibly ransacking everything and turning the place upside down.

Initially, the Sang family's servants intended to resist, but upon hearing such a grave accusation, and realizing that these individuals represented the Prefect of Jingzhao and were acting under orders, no one dared to make a move.

Zheng Dan's eyebrows shot up. "Nonsense! My... father-in-law is fiercely loyal to the Emperor. How could he possibly collude with the demon race!" Back in Bright Moon City, Sang Hong was publicly recognized as a staunch supporter of the Emperor; how could he do such a thing?

Sang Qian also angrily retorted, "Precisely! Whose orders are you following? My father is a distinguished Minister of Revenue. How can he be casually convicted without a trial by the Three Judicial Offices?"

"That's why we're here to investigate," Yi Zhibing chuckled, then winked at one of his subordinates. "Search thoroughly; don't miss a single corner. This kind of evidence is always hidden in the most secretive places."

Sang Qian sneered, "Heh, search all you want. The Sang family has a clear conscience." At the same time, she worried about her father's safety.

Zheng Dan, however, frowned. Although Sang Qian was resourceful, her experiences since childhood had been limited to the machinations of royalty and aristocrats; she didn't understand how troublesome low-level officials and clerks could be. Given her background, she shouldn't have understood this, but she had been the leader of the largest gang in Bright Moon City. Naturally, she understood how easy it was for these individuals to ruin someone's family.

Sure enough, shortly after, a yamen runner came to report: "Young master, we've found some suspicious items."

"Oh, quickly, take me there!" Yi Zhibing seemed to have expected it. He didn't even need his subordinate to lead him, striding quickly in a certain direction. Sang Qian and Zheng Dan hurriedly followed. Soon, the group arrived in Sang Qian's boudoir.

A group of people were rummaging through the room, leaving it in a mess. Clothes were strewn everywhere, and the bedding on the bed had been tossed aside.

"What are you doing!" Sang Qian's face turned red with anger. Although this world didn't have strictly enforced gender segregation, unmarried women rarely allowed men into their private chambers. Yet, these people showed no regard, making such a mess.

Zheng Dan gently patted her shoulder, signaling her not to get agitated and affect her pregnancy. Then, with a casual wave, a burst of qi sent the rummaging yamen runners stumbling. She was already a top practitioner among her peers; dealing with these ordinary yamen runners was effortless for her.

"You're rebelling!" Yi Zhibing immediately shouted. Next to him, a hitherto silent constable's eyes instantly sharpened. He stared intently at Zheng Dan, his hand hovering over his saber's hilt.

Zheng Dan's heart jolted. She instantly felt her qi locked, realizing the capital truly was different; even a constable possessed such cultivation. But then she thought, it made sense; without considerable skill, how could one apprehend criminals in a place like the capital?

Sang Qian spoke coldly, "Young Master Yi, there's no need to be alarmist. You have no imperial decree, nor an arrest warrant from the Grand Judge. You're treating us like criminals, yet you are the ones breaking the rules first. We're not afraid to take this matter to the highest authorities."

"I've long heard Miss Sang is sharp-tongued, and seeing it today proves the rumors true," Yi Zhibing said, unperturbed. "But you'll regret it soon enough." With a glance, a constable next to him immediately called out, "Young master, something's been found here."

Beneath the bed, a secret compartment had been opened, revealing several letters inside. Yi Zhibing snatched them. "Heh, now that the evidence of Sang Hong's collusion with the demon race is here, what more do you have to say?"

"This is clearly your work of framing us!" Sang Qian was a bit vexed. Everyone said pregnancy makes you foolish for three years; she had actually forgotten to guard against this trick and should have followed them. However, their manpower was limited; they couldn't keep an eye on every corner of the courtyard. The opponents could easily plant these 'evidence' items anywhere, making it impossible to guard against.

"Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation," Yi Zhibing laughed. "These were clearly found in your room. So many people here can testify to it. How can you blame me?"

"Precisely, precisely, we saw it with our own eyes," the yamen runners around him echoed.

"You haven't even looked at the letters, so how do you know this is evidence of collusion with the demon race? Unless these contents were fabricated by your own hands," Zheng Dan said coldly. She had witnessed such methods, designed to ruin families, many times in local gangs, but she hadn't expected these high-ranking officials in the capital to use such crude and simple tricks.

Yi Zhibing's breath hitched, and it took him a while to recover. "Hmph, whether the contents are related to the demon race or not, you can explain it in prison. Men, take them all away!"

"Yes, sir!" The burly constables surrounded the two women.

Sang Qian's face paled. She was currently concealing her pregnancy with wide robes, but in prison, wouldn't it be exposed? The Sang family's reputation was a minor concern; her biggest worry was if she accidentally agitated her pregnancy and caused problems for the baby.

Zheng Dan clearly also thought of this. She immediately blocked Sang Qian, hesitating whether to try to break out with her. Although the constable opposite them was formidable, if she and Sang Qian joined forces, they might have a chance to escape. However, they would then become wanted criminals, and with the capital full of experts, they would truly have nowhere to hide. But if they surrendered, she knew it would be even more dangerous, immediately putting her in a dilemma.

At this point, Yi Zhibing waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to wait outside the door. "Let me have a word with the two ladies first."

After the men closed the door, Zheng Dan said coldly, "What do you want to talk about?" She wondered if she could seize this opportunity to take him hostage.

At this, Yi Zhibing appraised her graceful figure, clicking his tongue and sighing, "Such a figure, such a beautiful woman, yet her fate is so bitter. Her husband died soon after she married, and her prime youth will be wasted in widowhood."

Hearing his frivolous tone, Zheng Dan's face turned cold. "Shut up!"

"I'm saying all this because I want to make a deal with you," Yi Zhibing said, finding the young lady before him adorable even when angry, and feeling a little impatient. He brandished the envelope in his hand. "Madam, you wouldn't want anything to happen to this family, would you?"

He took deep breaths of fresh air, his chest trembling. Confusion, bewilderment, all sorts of emotions surged through his mind.

Where was this?

Then, Shi Yu unconsciously observed his surroundings, becoming even more bewildered.

A single dorm room?

Even if he had been successfully rescued, he should be in a hospital room now. And his body... how could there be no injuries at all?

Filled with doubt, Shi Yu's gaze quickly swept across the room, finally resting on a mirror by the bedside. The mirror showed his current appearance: around seventeen or eighteen years old, and very handsome.

But the problem was, this wasn't him! His previous self had been a handsome, extraordinary young man in his twenties, who had been working for some time. But now, this appearance looked like that of a high school student...

This change left Shi Yu dazed for a long time.

Don't tell him the surgery was successful... His body and appearance had both changed; this wasn't a matter of surgery, but rather immortal magic. He had completely become another person!

Could it be... he had transmigrated?

Besides the mirror by the bed, whose placement clearly had bad feng shui, Shi Yu also found three books nearby. Shi Yu picked them up and saw the titles, which instantly silenced him.

《Beginner Breeder's Essential Beast Rearing Handbook》《Care for Pet Beasts Postpartum》《Guide to Appraising Heterogeneous Beast-Eared Girls》

Shi Yu: ???

The first two book titles seemed normal, but what was up with the last one?

"Ahem."

Shi Yu's gaze sharpened, and he reached out, but his arm quickly stiffened. Just as he thought to open the third book to see what it was, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his brain, and a flood of memories surged forth.

Icefield City.Pet Beast Breeding Base.Intern Pet Beast Breeder.Beast Tamer?